Some Brits get software three days early

Windows 7 Windows 7 orders are arriving in some UK customers’ letterboxes three days ahead of the operating system’s official launch.

Currys and PC World have shipped some editions of the software early in a move to try and offset the pain customers face from Royal Mail's planned 48-hour strike on Thursday 22 October, which happens to coincide with Redmond’s latest OS christening.

“Just received through my letterbox a brand spanker of new Windows 7 DVD Home Premium courtesy of PC World. Nice and fast before all of the official release dates,” one Register reader told us.

Others similarly confirmed that they too had been sent their copies early, having pre-ordered various flavours of the operating system in July via Currys and PC world, which are both owned by retail giant DSGi.

El Reg asked Microsoft if it was aware of copies of Windows 7 being shipped early to Currys and PC World punters.

A spokesman at the software vendor gave us this statement:

"Microsoft is aware of the planned postal strike and has taken action to minimise impact on those customers who pre-ordered their copies of Windows 7. As a result, some customers may receive their copy of Windows 7 a day or two early."

Meanwhile, a spokesman at DSGi confirmed that the electrical dealer used other carriers including DHL, and so wasn't reliant purely on the Royal Mail for deliveries.

"We have taken a customers-first approach, and given the threat of Royal Mail strike action, we have consulted with Microsoft and authorised the early release of a first batch of Windows 7," he added.

We asked online retail giant Amazon if it was also posting out the software early to customers who had pre-ordered the OS.

"We will be doing everything we can to ensure that Amazon customer orders are not disrupted including routing orders through our other carrier partners," it said in a statement.

Earlier this month Amazon confirmed it was mulling "contingency measures" to deal with what biz secretary Lord Mandelson described as "suicidal" industrial action at the Royal Mail. ®